Monday, February 27. 2017

Today's schedule is A-B-C-D

A Block Introduction to Law 9/10 -Today we'll look at Geographic profiling. I'll ask you to brainstorm a list of locations in the Comox Valley that you feel crime will be more prevalent in and you'll have to justify your reasoning. For more on Geographic profiling check out:

Mapping Crime by Keith Harris
Center for Geospatial Intelligence and Investigation
RCMP Geographic Profiling

After, we'll work on a Geographic Profiling Comox Valley crime Map with data from the Comox Valley CrimeStoppers website. We'll look at Residential Break & Enters for the city of Courtenay. There are two basic types of residential break and enters: opportunistic and organized (you could also say amateur and professional). What are the differences? The scale of proceeds (size/quantity/value); the ability to dispose of proceeds (quality fences who will purchase stolen property); the capacity to store proceeds (hold on to stolen items); the level of planning/complexity (how much time is needed to organize a plan of attack for the size of the and challenge of the residence); and the level of risk involved.

If the B&E is done to commit another offense then the motives can range from intimidation/extortion to negatively impacting the business of another or to commit a further offence (eg domestic violence, sexual domestic violence, sexual offence, assault, mischief). If the B&E is done with the intent to steal then the motives can range from boredom to profit.

I want you to think about data here; I'll give you a list of the 61 incidents in 2016 and first I want you to map them out. After, consider where they are located and what kinds of neighbourhoods they are a part of. Think about where the 24,099 people live in the 29.38 square kilometer area that is Courtenay. The 2011 Census Data for Courtenay and the National Household Survey both reveal some interesting data about our city.

1. 58.2% of our city's population was participating in the labour force (employed or unemployed) that means 41.8% were retired or not old enough to work.
2. Our unemployment rate was 11.1% and most people were employed in retail (19.54%), health care and social assistance (12.2%), or public administration (9.55%)
3. The average yearly income for each person in Courtenay was $33,737 (when you blend part and full time workers together - those who worked full-time their average yearly income was $48,302) and the average family income was $72,186. Only 5.4% of the city's population made over $100,000 per year, 17.55% of the city's population made between $50,000-$99,999 per year, 39.4% of the city's population made between $20,000-$49,999 per year, while 36.6% of the city's population made less than $19,999 per year.
4. Of the 10,890 dwellings in Courtenay 7,575 were lived in by owners while 3,315 were lived in by renters (2,115 of those dwellings were a part of a condominium development).

So there's a little info about housing & income for people in Courtenay and when we match some of that data to your map, I want you to figure out where you think the Comox Valley RCMP should focus their attention to aid in community-based crime prevention for the city of Courtenay. Where would be a good place to start a Block Watch? Why?

B Block Law 12 - Today we'll examine the collective rights of Canada's Aboriginal/First Nations people. We'll talk about the significance of the Calder v. Attorney-General of British Columbia, 1973 decision. From the Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements Project:

The decision in Calder v Attorney-General of British Columbia was handed down by the Supreme Court of Canada on 31 January 1973. It is often credited with having provided the impetus for the overhauling of the land claims negotiation process in Canada. The case was initiated in 1968 by the Nisga'a Tribal Council against the Government of British Columbia. It failed both at trial and in the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeal's finding in recognising the possible existence of Aboriginal rights to land and resources, but was equally divided on the issue of whether the Nisga'a retained title. The decision prompted the federal government to develop new policy to address Aboriginal land claims. In 1976 Canada commenced negotiations with the Nisga'a Tribal Council. British Columbia did not join the negotiations until 1990. The Nisga'a Final Agreement was concluded in 1999 and implemented by legislation in 2000.

After, we'll talk about the LGBT community in Canada and the Civil Marriage Act (which legalized same-sex marriage in Canada on July 20, 2005) and finally we'll take a closer look at Human Rights and how they are enforced in Canada.

To finish, I'll have you work on: Questions 1-4 on page 94:

1. Explain the difference between civil rights and human rights.
2. How do prejudice and stereotyping lead to discrimination?
3. Explain the difference between a complainant and a respondent.
4. What is the difference between intentional and unintentional discrimination?
Questions 4 & 5 from page 97
4. Explain the concept of a poisoned work environment. Provide an example.
5. Explain the difference between accommodation and undue hardship.
AND Question 5 from page 104
5. What types of remedies are available under human rights law?

For more on the BC Human Rights Code look at the Attorney General's Human Rights Protection site. For more on the Canadian Human Rights Act see the Canadian Department of Justice site. For more on Human Rights in Canada see the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

B Block Social Studies 11 -  Today we'll talk about the ways you can influence government, focusing on elections and voting. We'll look at representation by population, the first past the post system, and the concept of proportional representation. You'll need to work on 1, 2, 3, and 4 on page 253 along with 1 and 2 on page 258 of your Counterpoints textbook today. For help on why you should vote see:

Elections Canada Electoral System explanation
Compulsory voting in Australia explanation
Electoral Reform in BC First Past the Post or STV
About.com First Past the Post vs Proportional Representation
Historical record of Canadian Voter turnout
2015 Election Results CBC

There are two members of parliament representing the Comox Valley...Comox and Electoral Areas B and C will remain with the 'North Island-Powell River' riding, while Courtenay, Cumberland and Area A will join the 'Courtenay-Alberni' riding.

D Block Criminology 12 - Today your journal / blog entry is to post your response to Friday's question:

What are the short and long term impacts on victims of Crime? Use Harper in the Law & Order episode you watched on Friday and Chapter 3 pages 54-7 in CRIM textbook to help.

Next, I'd like you to find an article (news story) about a victim of crime and for that you should outline the impacts of the crime on them. Finally, using the two stories (one fictional and one real) explain what we should do to mitigate (soften the impact) the impacts of crime on victims (be realistic). Don't forget to find stories on crime in Canada check out:  CANOE CNews Crime site...or the Toronto Star Crime site...or  Global News Crime site...or the Huffington Post Canada Crime site...or the Vancouver Sun Crime Blog